GRAND FORKS, N.D. - Playing in its final home game of the 2011-12 season, the University of North Dakota women's basketball team sent its seniors and head coach Gene Roebuck off with a 79-45 non-conference victory over Mayville State.
"Senior night is always a special night for me," Roebuck said. "I'm so proud of all of our players that have gone through the program. When they get done at UND, they are going to go out in the world and do a great job in whatever they do."
This marked the final home game for three seniors: Charnise Mothershed, Charnay Mothershed and student assistant coach Ashley Privratsky, and the final game in front of a Betty Engelstad Sioux Center crowd for Roebuck.
"Charnise and Charnay are very special to me. They came to us from Arizona, and it had to be a real shock to them. They are playing great and really setting the tone right now. They are rebounding and just playing as hard as they can because they have pride in the University of North Dakota, and they have pride in their teammates.
"With Ashley, life doesn't always give you everything that you want. She was forced not to play because of knee injuries, but she stayed with the program and she's been a big part of the program with her upbeat attitude. I'm so proud of her because never once did I see her feel bad for herself. She has always been there for her teammates and always positive.
"The three seniors that I have are quality young ladies, and I am so proud of them."
As a team, the Fighting Sioux (16-10) scored 33 points off of the Comets' 27 turnovers, won the rebounding battle 43-30, and dished out 25 assists. With a large height advantage, the Sioux tallied a season-high 10 blocked shots.
Sophomore center Allyssa Wall (North Sioux City, S.D.) led the offensive effort with 23 points on 10-for-15 shooting from the field and a 3-for-4 outing at the free throw line. She added five rebounds and a season-high-tying four blocked shots. Also in double-figures was classmate Megan Lauck (F, Shoreview, Minn.), who shot 4-for-9 from the field and a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line. It was a Lauck's three-pointer at 10:15 in the opening half that seemingly put the Sioux in the driver's seat.
Off the bench, redshirt freshman center Emily Evers (Grand Forks, N.D.) led with seven rebounds (five defensive), and sophomore forward Katie Houdek (Grafton, N.D.) added another six (five defensive).
Mayville State's Hailey Longtin went 3-for-5 from behind the arc to finish with a team-high nine points. Erin Ericson and Megan Groen added another eight apiece.
North Dakota opened the game with an 8-2 run, but with back-to-back three-pointers by Longtin, Mayville State pulled to within four (12-8). Down on the other end, UND connected on a pair of field goals, but this time it was Ericson who hit the long range ball. Following a few back-and-forth baskets, Lauck drilled a three-pointer at the top of the key and set up an extended 26-6 run that would take the Fighting Sioux to the end of the half
UND opened the run with a 12-6 advantage, and after Sabrina Rude hit Mayville's fourth three-pointer of the game (6:05) and its final point of the half, seemed to take full control.
In the final six minutes of the first half, the Sioux scored an answered 14 points while forcing the Comets to seven turnovers.
At the break, UND led the Comets 45-20.
With a fresh 20 on the clock, Mayville State tried to battle back, but the Sioux stood strong and continued to build on its 20-point lead. Leading 57-33 with 12 minutes remaining, Wall scored back-to-back baskets to open a 10-0 run for UND. Longtin shut it down with a long three, but sophomore forward Madi Buck (Bismarck, N.D.) was there with the answer on the other end.
As the time ticked away, Roebuck individually pulled the Mothershed twins off of the court, giving the crowd a chance to thank them with applause. Charnise stepped off easily for the last time with a standing ovation at 1:12, and Charnay was able to walk off with 25 seconds remaining as teammate Carly Rothfusz (Eden Prairie, Minn.), taking orders from Roebuck, purposefully traveled in order to stop the clock.
"It's been 25 years, and the last game doesn't really hit you," Roebuck said. "Right now, it seems like for me that it's just another game. We have three other conference games, some conference tournament games, and then who knows, the opportunity might be that we get another home game. Right now, I'm not even reflecting on this being my last game. I'd just like to see our team be successful and win the conference tournament. That's our goal."
North Dakota will play out the remainder of the season on the road, starting with a trip to Texas to take on Texas-Pan American (Feb. 23) and Houston Baptist (Feb. 25). The regular season will conclude on March 3 as the Sioux take on Utah Valley in Orem, Utah.
The 2011-12 Great West Conference Tournament, hosted by Chicago State, will take place March 8-10 at the Emil and Patricia Jones Convocation Center in Chicago, Ill.
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